Jeetan Patel added to Kiwi squad for last Bangladesh ODI

Wellington [New Zealand], Dec. 29 (ANI): New Zealand have made a "horses-for-courses selection" for the third ODI against Bangladesh to be played in Nelson on Saturday by adding off-spinner Jeetan Patel to the squad. New Zealand coach Mike Hesson asserted that Patel was included in the squad keeping in view the sluggish nature of the Saxton Oval track and the presence of three left-handers in Bangladesh's top five. "He has been bowling very well for the Wellington Firebirds in the McDonald's Super Smash and will be a welcome addition to the squad," ESPNcricinfo quoted Hesson as saying. Patel was included in the Test line-up against India in September as Mark Craig suffered from a side strain. Coming into the Test side after a gap of three years, Patel scalped six wickets in the two Tests. The 36-year-old spinner took a match haul of seven wickets in Wellington's six-wicket win over Auckland in the Plunkett Shield. He followed it with 11 wickets in the next three Plunkett Shield matches. Patel has so far taken six wickets in eight games in the ongoing Super Smash at an economy rate of 7.51. Patel, who last played an ODI in 2009, will join the team on Friday and will be the second front-line spinner in the squad alongside Mitchell Santner. New Zealand have already clinched the three-match ODI series with a 67-run victory on Thursday. (ANI)